I grew up in the Austrian countryside, where queerness & LGBTQIA+ aren't topics regularly brought up either in private or public, but if they are, comments range from simply uninformed to degrading and hurtful.
It seems to me a vicious circle: When it's not really acceptable to be out because people fear to be discriminated against, they then tend to either hide their queerness or move to a bigger city. This, in turn, leads to less representation and visibility in the countryside, and so society there cannot change and become more open and accepting towards queer people. Explaining queerness rationally and visually seemed to me the best way of taking away people's fears about this complex and wide topic. This is why I've embarked on a journey of talking to people who identify as queer in terms of their gender identity, sexual orientation and/or ways of relating. Their unique testimonials have been transformed into stories and artwork. I'm intending to publish these as a graphic novel in German in 2024. Stay updated and follow our journey here! 💚🏳️🌈